Packaged liquid fabric softener composition having improved stability

Abstract

The present invention relates to packaged product as well as the methods of using same. Such packaged product containing a liquid fabric softener composition wherein said liquid fabric softener composition comprises a quaternary ammonium ester softening active, dispersed perfume, and cellulose fibers. Such packaged liquid fabric softener compositions exhibit phase stability while also delivering the softening benefits and pleasant smell that are desired by consumers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaged product comprising
 a packaging having a closed end and a peripheral wall extending from said closed end to an open neck, said peripheral wall having an interior surface comprising a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and mixtures thereof; and   a liquid fabric softener composition contained in said packaging and in contact with said material, wherein said fabric softening composition comprises a quaternary ammonium ester softening active at a level of from about 3% to about 25%, dispersed perfume at a level of from about 0.1% to about 5.0%, and cellulose fibers at a level of from about 0.01% to about 5.0%, by weight of the composition.   
     
     
         2 . The packaged product according to  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall of the packaging in contact with the liquid fabric softener having an average transmittance at a wavelength between about 400 and about 760 nm of at least about 50%. 
     
     
         3 . The packaged product according to  claim 1 , wherein the quaternary ammonium ester softening active is present at a level of from about 4% to about 20%, by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         4 . The packaged product according to  claim 1 , wherein the quaternary ammonium ester softening active has the following formula:
   {R 2   (4-m) —N+-[X—Y—R 1 ] m }A-
   wherein:
 m is 1, 2 or 3 with proviso that the value of each m is identical; 
 each R 1  is independently hydrocarbyl, or branched hydrocarbyl group, preferably R 1  is linear, more preferably R 1  is partially unsaturated linear alkyl chain; 
 each R 2  is independently a C 1 -C 3  alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group, preferably R 2  is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, 1-methyl-2-hydroxyethyl, poly(C 2-3  alkoxy), polyethoxy, benzyl; 
 each X is independently —(CH 2 ) n —, —CH 2 —CH(CH 3 )— or —CH(CH 3 )—CH 2 — and 
 each n is independently 1, 2, 3 or 4, preferably each n is 2; 
 each Y is independently —O—(O)C— or —C(O)—O—; 
 A- is independently selected from the group consisting of chloride, methyl sulfate, and ethyl sulfate, preferably A- is selected from the group consisting of chloride and methyl sulfate, more preferably A- is methyl sulfate; 
   
       with the proviso that when Y is —O—(O)C—, the sum of carbons in each R 1  is from about 13 to about 21. 
     
     
         5 . The packaged product according to  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose fiber is present at a level of from about 0.05% to about 1.0% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         6 . The packaged product according to  claim 1 , wherein said packaging comprises a bottle and a cap wherein said cap is removably attached to the bottle. 
     
     
         7 . The packaged product according to  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose fiber is microfibrous cellulose, microfibrous cellulose derived from: bacterial or botanical origin, preferably from wood or plants, in particular, spruce, eucalyptus, jute, and sisal, more preferably from wood or jute. 
     
     
         8 . The packaged product according to  claim 1 , wherein the cellulose fibers have an average diameter from about 10 nm to about 350 nm. 
     
     
         9 . The packaged product according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fabric softener composition has a viscosity from about 50 mPa·s to about 1000 mPa·s, measured at a shear rate of 10 s −1  at about 25° C. 
     
     
         10 . The packaged product according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fabric softener composition has a yield stress from about 0.005 Pa to about 2.0 Pa, measured at about 25° C. 
     
     
         11 . The packaged product according to  claim 1  wherein the dispersed perfume is present at a level of from about 0.3% to about 4% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         12 . The packaged product according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fabric softener composition further comprises a dye. 
     
     
         13 . The packaged product according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fabric softener composition further comprises from about 0.05% to about 10% by total weight of the composition of encapsulated benefit agent, said encapsulated benefit agent is encapsulated in capsules wherein said capsules comprise a capsule wall, said capsule wall comprising wall material selected from the group consisting of melamine, polyacrylamide, silicones, silica, polystyrene, polyurea, polyurethanes, polyacrylate based materials, polyacrylate esters based materials, gelatin, styrene malic anhydride, polyamides, aromatic alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol, resorcinol-based materials, poly-isocyanate-based materials, acetals (such as 1,3,5-triol-benzene-gluteraldehyde and 1,3,5-triol-benzene melamine), starch, cellulose acetate phthalate and mixtures thereof, preferably the capsule wall comprises one or more wall material comprising melamine, polyacrylate based material and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method for treating fabrics, said method comprising:
 i) Storing the packaged product according to  claim 1 ;   ii) Optionally washing, rinsing and/or drying said fabrics;   iii) Dosing the packaged product without rehomogenizing the liquid fabric softener composition according to  claim 1 , into a dosing cup or directly into the washing machine   iv) Contacting said fabrics with said liquid fabric softener composition in a washing and/or rinsing cycle.   
     
     
         15 . A method of improving the phase stability of a liquid fabric softener composition, said method comprising packaging said liquid fabric softener composition in a package having a closed end and a peripheral wall extending from said closed end to an open neck, said peripheral wall having an interior surface comprising a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and mixtures thereof, said liquid fabric softening composition comprising a quaternary ammonium ester softening active at a level of from about 3% to about 25%, dispersed perfume at a level of from about 0.1% to about 5.0%, and cellulose fibers at a level of from about 0.01% to about 5.0%, by weight of said liquid fabric softener composition